On politics in the Golden State

Donation to governor’s residence fund is disclosed

June 24, 2011 | 3:20
pm

The head of the nonprofit that is paying the rent for Gov. Jerry Brown’s Sacramento loft said Friday that the group’s sole donation thus far was $25,000 from a surplus in the governor’s inaugural fund.

On Thursday, George Kieffer, president of the Governor’s Residence Foundation, had said that no donors would be identified until January 2012.

Brown collected more than $550,000 in his inaugural fund, even though he capped contributions at $5,000. Many who contributed were interest groups before the state. His low-key inauguration left that fund with a surplus, some of which was transferred to the residence foundation, Kieffer said.

With Brown’s rent costing the foundation $3,000 per month, the seed money from the inaugural fund will soon run out, Kieffer acknowledged, and more donors will need to be sought.